SOMERSET CCC wicketkeeper James Rew has been crowned the PCA Men's Young Player of the Year at the 2023 cinch PCA Awards.

Rew scored over 1,000 First-Class runs in the LV= Insurance County Championship this season and has become the first teenager to win the award since James Taylor in 2009.

His breakthrough season also saw him score an impressive five centuries in red-ball cricket.

The 19-year-old also produced a career best 221 against Hampshire as he led the vote from Gloucestershire’s Ollie Price and Surrey and England’s Jamie Smith to win the award.

After winning the award, Rew, said: “It’s unbelievable really because at the start of the season I didn’t expect to be in the running for the cinch PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year.

“I was just trying to keep it simple and score runs, I was overjoyed just to be nominated for an award that has some amazing names on it, it’s really special for me.

“It’s hard to get my head around winning it, things seemed to work for me this year by playing on some nice wickets and we put in some good team performances that helped me out too."

Held in East London, the cinch PCA Awards were attended by 500 guests, including current and former players, partners and stakeholders, to celebrate the 54th edition of the most prestigious awards ceremony in English and Welsh cricket.

Rew added: "It’s unbelievable really because at the start of the season I didn’t expect to be in the running for an award.

“I want to keep performing well for Somerset and try and put in a title challenge and hopefully I can break into the Somerset white-ball side and try to get into the England Test team in the future.”

Tammy Beaumont and Harry Brook and have won the headline honours at the 2023 cinch PCA Awards.